Detroit Lions — 2026 season outlook, updated Aug 31, 2026.
Detroit Lions finished the 2025 season 9-8 · Missed the playoffs.
Detroit Lions: 9-8 regular season.
Based on verified play-by-play data (nflverse).
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2025 · Missed the playoffs
Where they rank — 2025
2026 schedule
- Bye week 6 — see all 2026 byes.
- 32nd-hardest schedule — opponents average 7.79 projected wins.
- Lions backfield and handcuffs — depth chart, refreshed daily.
Lions players we cover
Lions Camp — Aug 31: Joseph and Branch Out Until Week 5
Detroit set its 53 and put both starting safeties on the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list doing it: Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (a reported torn Achilles) cannot play before Week 5. The roster came in at two quarterbacks and four receivers per the team's website, Josh Dobbs won the backup job with a clean finale, and Dan Campbell revealed Isiah Pacheco has been managing an MCL sprain and a back injury with Week 1 uncertain. Sam LaPorta, at least, is back at practice and on track for the Saints.
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More episodes
- Camp · Aug 23, 2026
Lions Camp — Aug 23: Sheppard's Defense Smothers Washington
Detroit's first-team defense held Washington to 35 rushing yards and nine first downs in a 17-13 win — with Jayden Daniels on the field — while D.J. Reed returned, Derrick Moore came back with a strip-sack, and the rookies kept stacking plays. The quarterbacking behind Jared Goff was the wobble, and both starting safeties still haven't practiced with cut day a week out.
- Camp · Aug 16, 2026
Detroit Lions Camp Update — August 16: Kerby Joseph Is on the Branch Plan Now
Kerby Joseph is on the Branch plan now — Campbell grouped both safeties as "down the road" Tuesday, and his own late-camp marker for Branch is trending toward a miss. Detroit also lost a backup-heavy opener in Cincinnati where Ahmed Hassanein was the best player on the field. The September fragility case keeps writing itself.
- Camp · Aug 9, 2026
Detroit Lions Camp Update — August 9: Kerby Joseph Still Hasn't Practiced
Both starting safeties opened camp on PUP, and the coach's news split cleanly: Brian Branch might practice by late camp, Kerby Joseph's knee has no timeline at all. Sam LaPorta is fully cleared. The September-roster question from July is being answered in public, one press conference at a time.
- 2026 Preview
Detroit Lions 2026 Season Preview — The 481-Point Miss
Detroit scored the fourth-most points in football and missed the playoffs — the market has fully priced the bounce-back, but it's paying February prices for a secondary that might not exist until Thanksgiving.
- Season Review
9-8 regular season
- Draft Recap
7 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
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